GMA, Bolkiah agree to boost terror drive

President Arroyo and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei have agreed to jointly strengthen their campaign against terrorism, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said yesterday.

Bolkiah, who arrived here Sunday for a four-day state visit, met with Mrs. Arroyo at Malacañang to discuss mutual concerns including terrorism, trade relations and tourism.

Bunye told a press briefing that the two heads of state emphasized the importance of bilateral, regional and international cooperation in combating terrorism.

Mrs. Arroyo, he said, welcomed the interest of Brunei in forging an agreement on information exchange and the establishment of communication procedures for a determined and more committed regional response to terrorism in Southeast Asia.

"The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress in the implementation of the agreement, especially after the holding of the multilateral simulation exercise in Manila last Jan. 14-16," Bunye said.

Naval exercises between the two countries are scheduled to take place in Brunei in April.

In the area of trade, Bunye said that Mrs. Arroyo and Bolkiah reiterated their commitment to facilitate the revitalization of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

"Both sides noted the importance of ensuring that the momentum of cooperation activities in the East Asia Growth Area is sustained, and they look forward to the meeting of BIMP-EAGA senior officials and ministers later this year to further discuss the strategies and directions of the development of the sub-region," Bunye said.

He added that the two leaders welcomed the active involvement of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the revitalization efforts particularly in the development of small and medium enterprises in East Asia Growth Area.

"They also welcomed the active participation of the private sector in these efforts," Bunye said. "They were also looking forward to the convening of the First Joint Working Committee, which will be held either in Brunei or the Philippines."

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo thanked Brunei for its support and assistance in Mindanao as well as its contribution to the conclusion of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Brunei is a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Committee of Eight tasked to monitor peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

In a joint press statement issued after the meeting, the two leaders reiterated their commitment to building a stronger and more united Asean and seeing to it that the decisions made during the Eighth Asean Tourism Agreement in Phnom Penh in November last year, including he implementation of the Asean Tourism Agreement and the various initiatives on combating terrorism, would be fully implemented.

Both leaders also welcomed the signing of the memorandum of agreement on merchant shipping, which was aimed to promote economic relations between the two countries.

Off to Baguio City

Sultan Bolkiah and his royal entourage will fly to Baguio City this morning to visit the Philippine Military Academy, where he is expected to pardon 146 PMA cadets serving punishment.

Pardoning is a traditional gesture at the PMA whenever heads of states visit the country’s premier military training institution.

PMA Superintendent Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said that the Brunei Sultan will share important moments with PMA cadets at the PMA mess hall, which will bring back memories of his own cadet days at Sandhurst, an army officers academy in the United Kingdom.

The local Muslim community, however, was not officially invited to the affair even as trader-migrants have expressed willingness to be part of Baguio City’s reception for the visiting dignitary.

PMA spokesman Army Maj. Edward Aravelo told reporters that as far as he knew, Bolkiah will be at the PMA primarily to reminisce on his cadet days.

It was not also known if Bolkiah’s visit at the PMA will open new doors for the erection of the planned P13-million Muslim mosque inside the academy, the first mosque to be built inside a Philippine military institution. — With Artemio Dumlao